Retrofit used Renishaw probe head?
I've been wanting to get a probe for my milling machine as and aid to setup and also to use to measure existing parts.
I've thought about building or buying one of the hobby level ones ($200) but as with a machine tool maybe its better to buy industrial used.
It seems like the Renishaw MP3 heads are fairly easy to come by. PDF: http://www.renishaw.com/media/pdf/en...e357dabc93.pdf
The data sheet shows that the mp3 head mounts with a hemispherical seat and adjusting screws which seems easy to make and easy to get the stylus tip on the spindle centerline. The MP3 head has a 3 pin electrical connector which I assume I can integrate pretty easily.
MP3 head is pretty bulky (83mm diameter, 65mm tall).
Anyone done this? Any thoughts?
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I may be wrong, but in the back of my mind I thought that they don't use a simply switch type mechanism, rather a strain guage setup. the signal ends up having to go through an amplifying and filtering circuit to get a discreet on/off signal.
A while ago I was thinking of doing the same thing and I think I had read this somewhere.
The Renishaw is an expensive item, but it uses simple electronic switch and designed to input directly into a source type PMC high speed skip input.
I have successfully used the Heidenhain KT130 probe, these are also multi-directional (3 axis).
These are a lot cheaper than the Renishaw.
And have a 5v TTL output.
You usually have to buy the extra emerald tip for it, however.
Al.
CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
Albert E.
Do you have any more info on this? I was thinking it used the three pairs of ball with three rods. It would seem difficult to transmit that info through inductive or optical transmission. Can anyone confirm or deny?Originally Posted by AiR_GuNNeR
Systems such as Fanuc that use the G31 skip input, which consists of simple TTL input accept the output directly.
Renishaw have the two part remote infra-red transmit-recieve units and the direct link type.
Al.
CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
Albert E.
Hi Al. Thanks for the advice. I forgot to mention that I can get through electronics projects but I don't have a lot of experience or vocabulary.
I'm using LINUXCNC. I'm pretty sure it can deal with any kind of on / off signal. I'm planning on direct wiring from the controller to the MP3 renishaw head. Sound reasonable?
In terms of cost and budget, I think I can get just the MP3 head for less than $100. Plus tool shank, making the mounting surface, buying the stylus etc. I couldn't quickly find pricing on the KT130 but I'm trying to go pretty cheap here.
$100 sounds pretty cheap if you can get it for that price, what version out of the 3 is it?
Do you get any macros for it?
The KT130 was around $800 last time I checked.
Al.
CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
Albert E.
The one I'm looking at is just the used MP3 probe. No transmission module, no tool shank.
Unless it is the inductive model, it is not much use without the Radio or infra red receiver?
Incidentally when using these probes and it is present in the spindle, never command a move without a G31 to avoid a potential crash.
I assume you know how much the Renishaw units are to buy new?
Al.
CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
Albert E.
My plan was to buy the part of the probe shown above, make something to hold it in the spindle, and wire it via the three pin connector shown. It sounds like this wont work due to the way the electronics work?
I believe that 3 pin connector is for connecting the head itself to the upper body, which may be radio, infra red or inductive, the upper body is what does the conversion.
Having said that, the 3 pin connector is most likely going to be +v, common, and signal, which in all probability is an output from the detection opto or a buffer transistor.
But without definition of the exact nature of the power required and also the actual pin designations, it would be tricky to reverse engineer.
If these were known then a hard wired hookup may be possible?
Al.
CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
Albert E.
That was my thinking. Anyway to figure out how to wire it up or should I scrap this idea?
Renishaw MP11
Will
I fitted a Renishaw MP11 to my machine and that model uses an inbuilt SSR to control the signal. I am using one of the standard inputs on a mesa 7i37TA and works very well. The main benefit is that it has a side mounted connector so I keep the probe in my toolchanger and just plug in the cable when i need to use it. I have a video of it in action.
=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJJTgBBWuOs=
Lee
For $100 not that much to lose, but if the data sheets shown were available, they may hold some clue, or a complete unit to reverse engineer.
Otherwise, much would be guess work
Al.
CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
Albert E.
That is a bit different to the MP3, that one has the direct connection, so the interface is already present.
That would be the same, or similar to the heidenhain.
Al.
CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
Albert E.
Al
I was quite lucky finding the probe as dont think they were the most popular of the renishaw range. It came with the coiled cable and a connection diagram so was very straight forward. Just thought i would mention it as if Will could find one it may be an easier option.
Lee
Looks like the MP11 uses 15-30VDC to control the SSR. The optical transmission module for the MP3 takes two 9V batteries (I assume 9V or 18V). I think if I can get it cheap I'll experiment a little.
we found a renishaw knock off probe that we used. it works very well.
http://electronicsam.com/images/Kand...507%5B1%5D.jpg
it had some sort of inductive pickup.. (all we got was the head) - so we hacked in before the electronics. It seemed to be some sort of 6 ball - 3 pin style that people like to make.
http://electronicsam.com/images/Kand...e/DSCF1508.jpg
I don't know how we did anything without it...it seems to be repeatable to .0002" no problem.
We also use these a lot...
Probing routines for LinuxCNC's Enhanced Machine Controller
remember to change the program to your probe diameter.
sam
I negotiated for two mp3 heads plus two styli plus the omp (optical transmission) module for $100 plus shipping. I'll post back when I get them.
SAMCO - that probe looks huge in your hand and tiny on your machine!
Thanks for the LINUXCNC probing links.
Received my probes in the mail yesterday. Two MP3 probe heads with one OMP optical transmitter. I also got the users handbook which will hopefully help me figure out how to wire this thing.
Can anyone identify this connector? The ID of the metal ring is about .480" As shown the pins are numbered 1 (6 o clock), 2 (3 o clock), 3 (12 o clock). At 9 o clock there is a bump which i assume retains the connector.
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